International. OPmobility, a global supplier of fuel tanks for combustion and hybrid vehicles, plans to double its sales in the United States by 2028, CEO Laurent Favre said in a recent presentation.
The company already supplies the big three U.S. automakers: General Motors, Stellantis and Ford, as well as Tesla, with a new plant in Austin, Texas, which will be its largest source of revenue by 2025.
Favre said OPmobility could open two or three additional factories in the United States in the next five years, driven by the consolidation of the sector and the support for local production. Although the demand for fuel tanks could fall globally due to the rise of electric vehicles, OPmobility's strategy is based on the protection of the local market and a robust production structure in North America, where it already has 26 plants.
President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office in January, is expected to push for policies to protect local production, slapping tariffs on vehicles imported from Mexico and other countries and rolling back measures in favor of electric cars. However, Favre pointed out that this support for local production has been supported by previous administrations, so he does not anticipate significant changes.
"It's a very protective approach, and we see it as a positive thing," Favre said, stressing that the U.S. market will account for 50% of OPmobility's tank sales by 2030, up from 40% today.
This strategy also coincides with OPmobility's decision to close two fuel tank factories in Europe, specifically in Germany and France, to concentrate its production in regions of higher demand and optimize its global manufacturing network.
